Fastener



Aug, 0, 194. y' 'K EISELE 4,?

FAS TENER Filed' Opt. 15, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

Y B 'rf QW/f Mmmwgmwh Patented ug. 20, 1946 2,406,007 FASTENER KarlEisele, Belleville, N. J., assignor to Camloc Fastener Corporation,

poration of New York Application October 15, 1943, Serial No. 506,391 3Claims. (Cl. 24j-221) This invention relates to a structurally andfunctionally improved fastener and in its more specific aspects aims toprovidean element of a fastener assembly including, for example, a cammember and which, by means of the present invention, will be floatinglysupported.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to furnish a unit of this typeand which, when in mounted position, will be supported in a manner suchthat it may be capable of automatically positioning itself withreference to a cooperating element of the fastener assembly. Suchcooperating element is ordinarily in the form of a stud member.'Accordingly, even if the parts are not mounted in perfect alignment,they will automatically align upon being coupled. y

A further object of the invention is that of designing a unit of thistype and which, without any sacrice in strength, or diminution inbearing surfaces will occupy a minimum amount of space aside from thefact that it will also require for its production a minimum amount ofmaterial,

Still another object is that of furnishing a fastener element which mayreadily be mounted upon a member to receive the same, and despite thefact that the fastener will occupy the minimum amount of space.

Another object is that of providing a fastener Whichconsistent withembodying a maximum amount of strengthwill have astructure such that theresults and objects enumerated in the foregoing paragraphs will beaccomplished; such fastener, moreover, embodying a very simple type ofdesign capable of manufacture by substantially automatic machinery andmethods and apart from which the fastener, when once asembled, willoperate over long periods of time with freedom from all difficulties.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attachedsheet of drawings illus'- trating one practical embodiment of theinvention, and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the housing or shell which forms a partof the fastener element;

Fig. 2 illustrates a fastener element, the parts of which are modifiedto cooperate with the shell or housing of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the base plate which is associated withthe shell;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the fastener in assembled condition and withcertain of the parts broken away to disclose underlying construction;and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken along the lines 5 5 and inthe direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 4.

New York, N. Y., a cor- In these views only one element of a fastenerassembly has been illustrated. As afore brought out, this has been shownas a cam member or receptacle. The cooperating element has not beenshown but preferably is of the type shown in Patent No. 2,315,335.

Thus, referring to the member, it will be seen that the referencenumeral Ill indicates the body or collar member thereof, which as shownespecially in Fig. 2 is perfectly circular, and formed with a transverseslot II extending from its bore 9. The edges I2 of the member aredeveloped to provide cam portions terminating in a ,dwell beyond whichrecesses or relatively depressed portions I3-I3 are provided. In turnbeyond these portions, the member material is extended in the form ofprojections III-Ma: furnishing stops.

This member cooperates with a stud of the type afore described byprojecting the latter into the bore of the member. Adjacent suchreceiving end, the inner surface of the member may be flared asindicated by the numeral I5 in Fig. 5. This will provide a guidestructure assuring a proper cooperation and entry of the stud into thebore 9 of the member. The cross pin or member carried by the shank will,under continued projection of the stud, pass through the slot II andregister with the most depressed portions of the cam surfaces I2.Thereafter, by rotating the stud, the cross member or pin will rideagainst the surfaces and over the dwell portion until it comes to liewithin the recesses IS-I 3cr. Movement beyond this position is preventedby the stops I4-I4r. Under these circumstances, the parts are securedagainst detachment. A release of the parts may, however, be effected bysimply reversing the foregoing operation. y

A member or other fastener element of this general type is to be securedto a unit which may be in the form of a sheet I-S as shown in Fig. 5.

This sheet is formed with an aperture in line with the bore of themember and through which the end of the stud may be projected. Thelatter is, of course, mounted by a corresponding member or sheet whichis to be secured against movement with respect to the sheet I 6.V Incertain instances and due to the peculiarities of configuration of theparts or inaccuracies in mounting technique, the member and stud wouldnot be capable of cooperating to best advantage should the both of thembe rigidly secured against lateral displacement. It is preferred thatonly the collar member be capable of such lateral displacement.

Therefore, in order to furnish a mounting in which this will bepossible, and which will be consistent with the objects aforeenumerated, it is preferred to employ a shell or housing of the typeshown in Fig. 1. As therein illustrated this housing [8a may be formedof sheet metal and provide a deck portion or upper surface i8, the edgesof `which are defined by downwardly extending flanges lil-itx and 2li-20:13. The flange portions IS-IQJ: are preferably straight. The flanges2li-26a: are preferably bowed inwardly. As a consequence of such bowing,ear portions 2 |-2 lm extending beyond the flanges Ztl-26:1: may be ofonly minimum lengthbut will,V at,` the same time, be formed withapertures 22--22x to receive fastening elements, and with adequate spaceprovided for the manipulation and mounting of such elements. The deck orupper surface I8 is formed with an opening 23, the diameter of which isin excess of the diameter of the member body I0. V. Y y

The lower face of the housing, as shown in Fig. 1, may be secured to abase platehda of;Y the type particularly shown in Fig- 3. rlf-hisplateincludes a body 24 formed with Y projecting portions 25-25x, preferablyof an identical conteur to that of the rear portions 2 l-2l:r.` The body2A maybe formed .with an opening 2S of an area correspondingsubstantially to the area of the opening l1 formed'in the sheetl5.Preferablypeyelet portions 21-213: are formed 'integral with the body24 and within the projections -,a The distance between these eyeletsand-their diameter is such that they may pass through the openings22-22m in the ears 2 I-,2 lr. I

A base portion orflange 23 may begintegral with-or secured to the bodyof thefastener element. This base is formed with a pair of straight edgeportions 29- 29:cV and intermediate inwardly bowed or curvedk edgeportions; 2li-7313,56.Y v The degree of curvature of the lattershouldlpreferably -be substantiallyidenticalwith the degree of curvature of theflanges 2E-Y2r-gz'f'he distance betweenihe Opposite edges Sil-,llislessthan the distance between the opposite flanges2ll2 il, and the distance`between then oppositeedges 29-2950 is less than between thecorresponding edges lil-ign: ofthe shell. Y.

Thus, a fastenerelement of the type shown in Fig. 2 may be receivedwithin theshelland with its body l projecting through thegopening 23 if.

thereof. The base 29 will be lhousedwithin the shell, and the parts willbe securedagiinst accidental displacement by applying the base plate 2dato the shell. In such application, the eyelets 21-2132 or theirequivalents are aligned with the openings 2222x. y Thereafter, they maybe attened as indicated by the numeral 3l in Fig. 5. This will preventthe shell frommoving away from the base plate. At the same time, theYcollar .member lo will be similarly secured against movement in such adirection. However., this member will be free to shift within the limitsdefined by the shell and in lateral directions. Accordingly, should theparts not be incomplete registry and as the stud element is projectedintolthe bore of the member, it is, obviousthat the collarbore'Q of thelatter will;` shift or adjust itself to be properly aligned with thestud member. This will result in these parts cooperating prefectly andwithout the operators being even conscious of the fact that anadjustment has automatically occurred. Y

t is, of course, appare t that certain or all the 'foregoing parte mightbe.. manufactured'. ,of

any desired material and consistent with their embodying sufficientstrength and lightness to achieve the desired results. As a consequenceof this structure, a floating support or mounting for the collar memberl0 or other element is provided. Also, a minimum amount of material isemployed and the spacing between the ends of the ears is materiallyreduced. This is accomplished, however, without sacrificing any strengthor making rivets such as 32, Fig. 5, clilicult of application to theassembly for the purpose of securing them to the. sheet or member I6.When the parts are subjected to tortional stress as in the case ofapplication of the stud member to the collar member vlll, Vit isapparent that adequate bearing surfaces Awill be provided by the edgeportions 2li-29:1: and 30-3il in cooperation with flanges lll-|91: and20-2 0x. Also as a consequence of the arcuate shaping of the side edgesof the housing, maximum strength and resistance to torsional movement isachieved without any danger of deformation of the housing.v

Thus, among others,.the severalobjects `of the invention as specifically`afore noted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in constructionand rearrangements of the parts might be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim: 1

l. Areceptacle including, in combination, `a housing including avcentral .portion having an aperture therein, flanges extendingdownwardly from said central portion, at leastA two opposite flanges.bowing inwardly, ear portions extending laterally from said bowingflanges, a collar element disposed within said housingandincluding abody having its end projecting through.. the aperture in the centralportion of the body, a base alhxed to said body, at least twooppositeside edges of said base .bowing to correspond substantially to thecurvature of said bowing flanges, the distance between said bowing edgesbeing less than the ydistance between the inner surfaces of said bowingflanges, and means on said ear portions for securing said receptacle toa support. Y

2. A receptacle member for use in a fastening device, said membercomprising a substantially flat base plate having avsubstantially-circular opening therein, a separate housing mounted onsaid` base plate and provided with vertical side walls, at least two ofsaid side wallsr bowing-inwardly, the upper wall of said Ahousing havinga centrally-disposed, circular opening generally axially aligned withthe opening in said base plate, means securing said base plate yandhouse ing together, an engaging meinber-harvingY a portion extendingthrough the opening in said housing and providedl with asubstantially'horizontally-disposed flange portion extending betweensaid base plate and the upper wall Yof the housing, two of the opposed'sides of-said-angebowing inwardlyto correspond with the inwardlybowingSide walls of said housing. Y.

`3.. A receptacle member for use inV a fastening device, said membercomprising a substantially flat base plate having a substantiallycircular opening therein, av separatehousing mounted on said base plateand provided with four vertical side Walls and an upper wall-providingan upstanding, centrally-disposed portion, two opposed side walls.bowing inwardly fromthe corners of said housing, horizontally-disposed,substantially flat attachimg4 ears 4extendingfrom said bowing sideWalls, the upper wall of saidmusing hailing a centrally-disposed,substantially circular open- 5 ing therein which is substantiallyaxially aligned with the opening in said base plate, means for securingsaid base plate and housing together, an

engaging member having a portion extending through the opening in saidhousing and provided with a substantially horizontally-disposed flangeportion extending between the base plate and the upstanding portion ofthe housing, two opposed sides of said ange portion bowing inwardly tocorrespond with side Walls of said housing, the base plate and the earsof the housing having aligned rivet openings for securing saidreceptacle to a member.

KARL EISELE.

